Re-Visiting the Runs like sh*t 81 GPz550

chopper1963 wrote:

Re Same Coil

My mechanic friend keeps swapping the coils on the bike and suggesting that since there is no improvement that this shows the coils are not the issue.

What do you think of this?
 

If not the 2/3 coils than maybe you are late @ the 2/3 ignition "F" timing point !?!?

FIXED!!!

The two center carbs were missing the "KAWASAKI OEM NEEDLE JET#V95".

Once in place it runs on all four and idles fine. Today is a good day!


 

Are you joking?  No Needle Jets?  Who rebuilt those carbs?  Without the needle jet there can't be a main jet either.  WOW!  

Speechless.

Ness. Calm down--you do see that Kawasaki refers to THIS part as the needle jet #V95. Right?

It's the very small piece at the top of the main jet.

Are you still speechless after you look at the part number and the picture?

 

This is what was missing. Not the entire main jet assembly, obvs. Sheesh!

First of all, I have no idea where you live, because that information is not available in your profile.  For many parts of the world, the Needle Jet is code 16017, not 16017A.  But regardless, how does someone leave out critical parts of the carbs on two carbs, but install them on the other two?  Oh, never mind.  

PS: I wish I had a nickle for every set of "clean carbs" that were actually messed up.  I've seen this so many times, it's my default.  But saying anything, puts the OP on the defensive.  

<<how does someone leave out critical parts of the carbs on two carbs, but install them on the other two?  Oh, never mind.  >>

Old carbs. Ebay carbs. Not examining close enough, etc. It's an easy part to miss.

I just assumed an expert like yourself would know what part is being referenced by part number and name of part used by the mothership (Kawasaki). It's pretty funny you thought it was the whole main jet assembly. Ha!

Thanks for your help Ness.  Onward!

Man the bikes runs beautifully now. Sooooo nice. Going riding today.

chopper1963 wrote:

Are you still speechless after you look at the part number and the picture?


 

Yes

Doesn't take much to make you speechless, I guess? Ha.

This thread is a perfect example of why I preach doing a full rebuild on every set of old carbs before putting them into service.  And realize, rebuilding a set of carbs does NOT end at buying aftermarket "carb kits" and installing them.  A proper rebuild includes full disassembly, soaking the hard parts and jets in carb dip, or maybe an ultrasonic machine, if you have a high quality unit, then reassembly using all new gaskets and O-rings.  Missing and/or damaged parts are easy to note when the carbs are broken down.

On these TK22 carbs, there are some common problem spots, such as the choke flaps coming loose, which follows with the flap getting ingested by the engine.  NOT GOOD.  I did a full rebuild on a set of these a couple years ago, and the pin holding the choke flap was ready to fall off on one carb, and they were loose on several others.  I staked all the pin hold downs, and used high grade epoxy as a supplement.  

This website is chocked full of great info about those TK carbs.  Before you get too excited about your bike being "fixed" you may want to check out these pages...

s3.amazonaws.com/gpzweb/TK22mainPage/TK22mainPage.html